Materials here are freely downloadable. The scans are for the Alaska State Library system.
Webpages also created about Edward J. Thomas at: Edward J. Thomas - World War II Starts with induction and basic training at Fort
McClellan, Ala. (pages in progress) Edward J. Thomas - World War II - Aleutians
The letters that I have scanned now are searchable, if typed, and will include the envelope and all pages of the letter(s). For your convenience each letter will be in it's own PDF file. I may put more than one letter in a file, if they were in the original envelope. Attachments such as photos or other documents may or may not be included in the PDF file.
I will try to date-stamp my entries, so that you will know if you have already downloaded something from before. I am trying to keep everything listed in chronological order. I have added the day-of-the week, thanks to an Internet calendar, which includes phase of the moon. I also have an old calendar from my uncle Eddie which I will also use.
Unless otherwise stated below files should be in PDF format. Right click and save may be your best bet to save files.
Added on: Jun 26, 2009
From Richard Barrigar (correction - childhood friend born 1920) To Mr. Harry Thomas (No letter, just a postmark June 30, 1943
(Note, Harry is my father and the youngest of four children. Eddie is the oldest.)
The train trip from Camp Shenango to NW Washington & then to Alaska (July 14, 1943)
Somewhere in Alaska Jul. 24, 1943 Edward finds out he was a roommate to his cousin at Camp Shenango (Added Sat, Jun. 27, 2009)
August 5, 1943 letter from Ed to his mom and brother
Dear Issy & Mac (Sun. Aug. 8, 1943) Issy is my aunt and a younger sister of Edward. Mac is her husband, they end up divorcing by spring of 1944.
Dear Mom & Harry (Sun. Aug. 15, 1943)
Dear Mom & Harry (Sat. Aug. 21, 1943)
(Added Sat & Sun, Jun. 27-28, 2009)
Dear Mom & Harry (Sat. Sept. 4, 1943)
Dear Mom & Harry (Sun. Oct. 3, 1943)
Sun. Oct. 17, 1943 letter to mom
Dear Issy & Mac Tue. Oct. 26 1943
Richard Barrigar Mon. Nov. 8, 1943 letter to Harry
(Added Jun 29-Jul 4, 2009)
Dear mom & Harry Tue. Nov. 9, 1943
***THE PLAYERS*** A link to some of the people that are mentioned in correspondence. (some pictures up now)
Two letters
Birthday card to mom - Mon. Nov. 29, 1943 (postmarked) - My grandmother was born Dec. 11, 1889
Calendar for New Year 1944 Note shorthand (Edward used shorthand extensively, I will try to insert some)
Letter to mom and Harry - Sun. Jan. 2, 1944
Letter to Izzy & Mac - Sun. Jan. 16, 1944 - Ed's boat trip (Not sure why but Eddie nows spells Issy as Izzy - the way I also knew my aunt, too)
Letter to mom & Harry - Mon. Feb. 7, 1944
Leap day letter to mom & Harry - Tue. Feb. 29, 1944 (Ed includes copy of "Last Outpost" 2/27/1944 & 153rd Infantry flyer Printed 27 Feb. 1944
Letter to mom & Harry - Wed. Mar. 1, 1944 (Ed includes another copy of "Last Outpost" 3/19/1944 Link fixed 09/22/2009
Harry's letter (about mink-Thomas Mink Ranch) to Ed - Sun . Mar. 5, 1944 - Also 2 enclosures from Gladfelter Mink Rank to Harry & Ed
Letter to mom & Harry - Wed. Mar. 15, 1944
Letter to mom & Harry - Sun. Mar. 19, 1944
End of current letters, but more updates to come - plus click on the links at the top to visit Edward's army days.
Yellow star over polar bear -transfer